Issue 80

26 Rocktober

Meal Deals and Food Offers 

The Turkish Food Festival at the Galle Face Hotel started on Wednesday with an a la carte menu for two days then a buffet dinner on Friday and Saturday. The "Yaal Virindu" Jaffna Food Festival at Ramada starts on Thursday for four nights, and then on Saturday, Upali's start their Jaffna Food Festival, just for the weekend.

And from Friday, there will be another festival for choose from, as Water's Edge start their Japanese Food Festival at the Kobe restaurant. Chef Kanke has flown in from Japan to bring us a "true taste of Japan, from 28 October to 04 November.

This week, Water's Edge is also offering a German Meat Platter at The Boardwalk. It's priced at Rs9,900 for two people and will be available for lunch or dinner every day until 30 October. (Note: this replaces the usual Thursday Bavarian evening this week; but the Bavarian evening will be back next week).

This weekend the Fairway Colombo Street Food Festival takes place again. It's been extended and now includes Hospital Lane as well. This time they have lined up a total of 12 food vendors including these and these, plus live music both nights. It looks like it should be a great event!

T-Lounge by Dilmah has a special Halloween High Tea, with savoury and sweet treats specially crafted in a Halloween theme. Priced at Rs4400 per person, it is available until the end of the month.

And the Western Breeze Food Festival which was postponed last weekend due to the poor weather has now been rescheduled to the 11th and 12th November, taking place on Marine Drive. We look forward to hearing more!

Drinks Deals

There's been some great Oktoberfests this month and if you're looking for some more then you still have time. There is an Oktoberfest at the CR&FC from Thursday to Saturday this weekend and is open for both members and non-members. And then the last one (unless any more are announced!) is at the Hilton Colombo which has started and will continue every night until 5 November.

We found a new Happy hour! Sky Heights is the rooftop bar and restaurant at the Hotel Euro Lanka overlooking Marine Drive and the ocean and they offer buy one, get one free on selected beers from 4.00pm to 7.00pm, Thursday to Sunday. They also offer BYOB with no corkage fee if you spend over Rs2000.

Good news from the Four Leafed Clover: they now serve wines and beers and they have launched a daily Happy Hour from 5.00pm to 7.00pm with a "buy 3, get one free" deal on selected beer and offers on wines.

Sugar Bistro have a great Ladies Night offer with selected drinks free, on the house, for ladies from 8.00pm to 10.00pm on Fridays and they have now extended this to Saturdays as well. So, ladies, you can get your evening off to a good start on both Friday and Saturday nights! 

Live Music and DJs

This is a big weekend for music. On Friday 28 October, "Sundown" at Nelum Pokuna features Infinity and guests while over at the Taj Samudra there are two music festivals: "Decades Party" with three bands, three DJs and 3 solo artists with music from the last four decades, while across the gardens "Ra Sihinayak" has four artists with Doctor.

Also on Friday, The Soul have a gig at Punchi Theatre, and Slipping Chairs are on at Playtrix for a rocking Halloween.

And from a rocking Halloween to a Metal Halloween: on Saturday 29th Stigmata are back with Rocktober Volume 2 at Darley Road with support from Trishira, Sevexth, Sanjeev Niles and Ashen Sandaru, There's a Halloween theme, costume competition with amazing prizes, great food and bottle deals. Still not sure? Check this message from our good friends at Decibel.

Looking ahead to next weekend and it's a little quiet on the live music front but there is the next Classic Rock Night to look forward to on 4 November, featuring the reunified Kalm, with Altruist and Junkyard. This will be at The Manchester.

There is also some classic music next Saturday, with the Dr Earle de Fonseka Chamber Music Concert at the Wendt Theatre, featuring works by Mendelssohn, Mahler and Schumann.

On to the DJs and this weekend there is so much to choose from! This Friday, "Musique" at King Keshiyong in Dehiwala has eight DJs on the decks. The afore-mentioned "Decades" party is on at the Taj Samudra while at the Galadrari's Arena you'll find the more Halloween-themed "Groove Yard", with Effex DJs. Some clubs also have a Halloween theme: Ask for Fern "At Your Peril" and "the Killer Room", while it's "Disruption" at Disques with guest DJ Breakson from Korea and "Candy Floss" at Industri.

On Saturday, two of Sun FM's top DJs will be at Arcade for "Casa Halloween" while it's a "Night of Vampires" at Zouk and "Lost Souls" will gather at Love Bar and it's a "Thriller" at Liv.

Next Saturday, 5 November, "Voodoos" at SLECC features guest DJs Navar and Weird Sounding Dude. Meanwhile "The Playground VIP Experience" promises to be more than just a DJ party. There's five guest DJs: Rave Republic, Martin Jensen, Nervo, Autograf and Goldroom, plus six local DJs, at Paradise Beach. Expect immersive art experiences, bottle service, bars, lounge seating and more.

Sunday 6 November morning continues where Saturday night left off with "Berghain" at Karma Beach, starting from 10.00am, with nine local DJs.

Other Events

If you still haven't found a Halloween event that takes your liking, how about one of these: A "Trick or Treat" costume party by the Colombo Teens Club at the Havelock Club House on Saturday at 5pm, for ages 13 to 17. Or on Sunday, there is a family Halloween Brunch at Re.pub.lk from 11.30am to 4.30pm with activities for kids. There's also a Halloween Brunch at Water's Edge, frm 11.30am to 2.30pm, with a costume competition and face painting. And there is a costume contest at Ibson's Choice Cafe, from 5pm.

There's a lot of pop-up markets this weekend. On Saturday, "The People's Market" by the MJF Foundation offers food, crafts, music and fun, while at Crescat Boulevard, the Island Market has a range of stalls from local small businesses. On Sunday, the Aluth Pola at Body Bar also has stalls from a range of local small businesses, as does the Makers' Market at Pink Salt, which also offers activities for kids and an Open Mic session in the evening.

For the young chef in the family, the Hungry Islander's Kitchen is hosting a Halloween Cookery Class at BIY Studiom where kids can learn how to make pizza, spooky brownies and more, from 10.00am to 1.00pm.

Trivia fans and cricket fans, get together for an evening of cricket trivia, music, drinks, food - and a Cricket Themed Quiz. This is on Wednesday, 2 November at the Sky Yard Rooftop Bar, MaRadha Hotel.

A couple of years ago, at the start of the pandemic, nine film makers were asked to document their experiences and changed realities. The resultant Movie, "Goodnight Colombo" is being screened at the Goethe Institut on 2 November at 6.00pm.